Why Do I Like the Chicago Bears This Week?

I always like the Chicago Bears.

And, I mean, how can any Bears fan not like the Chicago Bears heading into this 2018 season? The organization has done every single thing they could to build a winning roster. Now they take that roster to the field.

Why the Bears Will Win

Khalil Mack. It simply can’t be overstated. Mack makes every single player on an already-good defense better. The Bears should be able to mount their most ferocious, consistent pass rush in the Aaron Rodgers era.

Mystery. What the hell are the Bears going to be on offense? Most people have pointed to the Andy Reid units in Kansas City (and kind of Philadelphia) but the talent pool in Chicago right now bears little resemblance to what the Chiefs have utilized the last several seasons. Robinson and Cohen barely showcased at all during public practices and preseason games. Add in offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich’s unique perspective and one has to wonder what Packers DC Mike Pettine is expecting to see Sunday night.

Better Run Game Than 2017. In Jordan Howard’s two games against the Packers last season he failed to rush for more than 54 yards. Why? Because Dom Capers wisely understood that stopping the Bears run game meant stopping the Bears offense. (Hell, they ran the ball on every first and second down.) But now there are simply too many weapons in the passing game for Pettine to take a similar approach and that should free up a multitude of running lanes for Howard – the best pure runner in the game.

Why They Won’t

Aaron Rodgers. Do you really require a paragraph explaining that Rodgers beats the Bears just about every time he plays them? He’s 15-4 against ’em. So odds are he’ll be 16-4 against ’em by the time the clock strikes Monday.

Mitch Trubisky’s Big Night. Anyone who has spent nine seconds on this site knows I’m a big fan of the young signal caller. But this is his first game running a new, complicated offense and it’s on one of the biggest, brightest stages he’ll see the entire regular season. It’s a tough spot. The offense should not be expected to hit it’s stride until 3-4 weeks into the season but can Tru avoid the big mistake early in the season?

Neil Simon’s Best Line

Neil Simon is a criminally-underrated playwright. He never reached the artistic accolades of an August Wilson or Eugene O’Neill or Tennessee Williams or Arthur Miller but his body of work is unparalleled in the history of American dramatic literature. The man had four hit plays running on Broadway…at one time. RIP Neil.

He also wrote one line I’ve never forgotten and I believe truly changed me as a writer. It’s from Biloxi Blues.

“You’re a witness. You’re always standing around watching what’s happening, scribbling in your book what other people do. You have to get in the middle of it. You have to take sides. Make a contribution to the fight. Any fight. The one you believe in.”

Song of the Week

Everybody has been bringing up that song “Return of the Mack” but Khalil Mack was never here. So it doesn’t have any relevance. This song is (a) way fucking better and (b) way fucking cooler. I may even start calling Khalil Mack “The Knife”.

Don’t Gamble, But If You Do…

The last five games Rodgers has quarterbacked against the Bears the team has scored 31, 13, 26, 30 and 35 (in a Glennon debacle). That’s an average of 27 points per game. And this is EASILY the best defensive unit the Bears will field during that time, primarily due to the presence of one of the league’s best defenders.

Take the under. (And I’ll be down in Atlantic City doing just that.)

Tweet of the Week

Reaction to Khalil Mack trade in the Raiders’ locker room was fairly singular. Disappointed no longer a teammate but genuinely happy for him. With contract, as player and person, he got what he deserved.

Found this to be the most interesting Tweet regarding the Mack trade because it underscores a major fact about the NFL: players are far more concerned with the win-loss column AFTER they get their money. The players in that Raiders locker room know full well that Mack’s departure means they’re going to be a bad team in 2018. But they also know the contract he signed with the Bears paves the way for them to make more cash. That will always be priority one for the NFL player.

Game Prediction

I’ve always had two theories early in the season. First, defenses tend to be ahead of offense. Second, Vegas always overrates teams early and inflates lines. Bears defense will be good Sunday night. And the Packers have been inflated.